Somerset ended the second day of their three-day friendly against Glamorgan at The SSE SWALEC with a small lead after the home side had posted 286/8 with James Kettleborough making an unbeaten century (writes Andrew Hignell)
Day Two - Close of Play Report
The declaration meant that Somerset had a maximum of two and a half hours batting, and a first innings lead of 37 runs to build upon under the leaden skies. Wagg and Meschede shared the new ball with the latter inducing a thick outside edge from Marcus Trescothick’s bat which flew in the air just out of the reach of Donald at third slip. Tom Abell also edged Wagg along the ground through the slip cordon to third man before departing in the fourth over as he edged Meschede into Wallace’s gloves.
Wagg then struck in the ninth over as Trescothick edged a ball into Bragg’s hands at first slip before next over Meschede trapped Chris Rogers l.b.w. as Somerset slumped to 36/3. David Lloyd and Lukas Carey then had a spell in tandem with Ryan Davies on-driving the latter to bring up the fifty before scything the former to wide third man. James Hildreth also pulled a long-hop from Carey to deep mid-wicket before Davies hoisted the teenager for six over square-leg. Hildreth then turned his attention to Lloyd as he clipped a full toss to fine-leg for four, before driving the all-rounder to the mid-wicket ropes.
Davies then greeted the introduction of Andrew Salter’s off-spin by on-driving him for four before Hildreth did the same to Dewi Penrhyn Jones. Davies also added a swept four to his tally in Salter’s second over before reaching his assertive fifty from 51 balls in the grand manner by lofting Salter over mid-wicket for six. Wagg and Meschede then returned for the last four overs as the visitors fourth wicket pair continued to steadily accumulate in the ever-darkening conditions.
Teatime Report
Glamorgan declared on 286/8 shortly before tea on the second day of their three-day friendly against Somerset at The SSE SWALEC, with James Kettleborough having made an unbeaten century.
Glamorgan began the post-lunch session on 185/4 and Kettleborough started in positive vein by glancing the first delivery, from leg-spinner Max Waller, to fine-leg for four. Lloyd also caressed the spinner through extra-cover for four, but later in the over he biffed a full toss straight back into the spinner’s hands. 198/5 saw the arrival in the middle of Graham Wagg and he duly despatched his second delivery through extra cover for four before lofting Waller in his next over high over long-on for six.
Wagg then despatched the leg-spinner off the back foot through the covers before lofting him to long-on for another lusty four, but his breezy cameo ended next over as he was bowled by a full length delivery from Overton. Having arrived in the middle with Glamorgan on 225/6, Craig Meschede flicked his first delivery to fine-leg for four, although Davies nearly pouched a fine diving catch. But in Waller’s next over, Meschede drilled a catch low to cover as Glamorgan slipped to 234/7.
With Andrew Salter as his new partner, Kettleborough off-drove and cut Trego for four, before Salter opened his account by twice pulling Tom Barber for four. He then greeted the return of Waller by hoisting the spinner to long-on, before Kettleborough completed his hundred with a pull for four plus a single to mid-wicket to complete his hundred from 219 balls. The opener then retired, with Ruaidhri Smith briefly joining Salter as the Glamorgan innings continued for another ten balls until Salter was bowled attempting a reverse sweep against Waller whereupon Glamorgan declared on 286/8 as tea was taken.
Lunchtime Report
With Chris Cooke resting a back spasm, and Jacques Rudolph batting at number four, the Welsh county’s line-up had something of an unfamiliar look about it. But the opening pairing of James Kettleborough and Mark Wallace batted with calmness and assurance in the 23 overs last night, adding 75 runs without loss in reply to Somerset’s first innings total of 323/7 declared. Kettleborough struck the day’s first boundary as he steered the third ball of the morning from Peter Trego through backward point.
But Tim Groenewald struck with his first delivery of the day as Wallace under-edged an attempted cut, with Will Bragg making his way to the crease. Kettleborough found the ropes again as he threaded a firm drive through the ring of fielders in the covers, but next over he unfurled a firm straight drive against Groenewald which the bowler deflected onto the stumps in his follow through with Bragg stranded out of his ground backing up.
92/2 saw Rudolph make his way to the middle, but two runs later he sparred at a short ball from Trego and Max Waller, at point, held onto the ball diving forward. Aneurin Donald opened his account with a flowing cover drive before Kettleborough brought up the hundred by on-driving Groenewald for four. Craig Overton then replaced Groenewald at the Cathedral Road End and was clipped to mid-on by Kettleborough to complete a 118-ball fifty.
Jim Allenby also returned to the attack and was crisply cover driven for four by Donald, who then nurdled the next delivery to wide third man for another boundary. Donald also flicked Overton to the ropes at mid-wicket before adding a more quixotic four as he spooned a drive in the air over extra cover, There was nothing fortuitous though about Kettle borough’s next boundary as he furiously swatted a short ball from Overton to the ropes, but with the total on 144, Donald’s innings came to an end as he was caught by wicket-keeper Ryan Davies who was standing up to Allenby’s medium-pace and safely pouched an edge from the young tyro’s bat.
144/4 saw David Lloyd make his way to the middle, and the all-rounder began by nurdling Groenewald for four, followed by a firm off-drive against the seamer. Max Waller’s leg-spin and Tom Barber’s left-arm seam were then employed in the twenty minutes before lunch.